Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Phantasm Street
Earliest memory connected to music:
I think my earliest memory of music was seeing my pop perform with my dad and uncle at a festival — either Broadbeach or Byron Bay Blues Fest. I must have been around 4 or 5. I remember the energy of seeing them on stage playing the blues and even at that age feeling that one day I wanted to do the same: get up on stage and perform music.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
It started very young — around age 4 or 5 — banging on pots and pans and naturally keeping rhythm. But it wasn’t until around age 12 that I picked up the guitar seriously, started writing songs, and honed my craft. During our teenage years, we were deeply involved in the Brisbane All Ages scene, which was hugely inspiring. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, that love for youth music culture remains a core part of who we are.
The story behind your current music project:
I met Tim (drums) and Josh (guitar) in Year 8 at Redcliffe High — we grew up together and shared a love of music. Later, at music school, I met Theo (bass). In 2021, during the COVID lockdowns, the four of us finally came together and formed Phantasm Street. I had a collection of songs waiting for the right band, and together we started creating loud, melodic pop/shoegaze. Our first two songs were released in 2023, and in 2024 we played as many gigs as possible. This year we released five singles and our EP Swamp Puppies, released October 31.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Our sound blends 90s alternative genres like shoegaze, grunge, alt-rock, slacker rock, and 60s pop melodies, with 70s prog influences from King Crimson and Pink Floyd, plus 80s jangle-pop/emo vibes reminiscent of The Cure and Cleaners From Venus. We take inspiration from artists not to imitate them but to explore philosophy, process, and progression — mixing emo, grunge, prog, and more to create a sound that’s uniquely ours, without boundaries.
One thing that completely changed the way you make music:
It’s not the gear — it’s the player and the song. Production and equipment enhance ideas, but a great song and strong performance shine through any setup.
Essential tools, instruments, or software:
Live, we rely on 2–3 heavy tube amps for guitars, but creativity is more about using what’s available. Limitations often lead to the most interesting results. At its core, all we’d need is one drum kit, bass, guitar, mic, and a basic amp — and we could still make something compelling. Personally, an SM57, a tape machine, my Fender Strat, a Hofner bass, and a drum kit would be enough to get going.
Indie artist or song you’re loving right now:
Jessica Pratt’s recent album Here in the Pitch. Her song Life Is was my most listened-to track this year.
How personal experiences influence your music:
Phantasm Street is essentially a “Memory Lane” — a timeline of all the experiences, memories, and moments that shaped me. These experiences form the backbone of our music and artistic vision.
Emotions or messages for listeners:
We aim to provide escape and acceptance — finding beauty and comfort in sadness and pain, with a hopeful undertone. Our music acknowledges the past while encouraging listeners toward a brighter future.
Most important lesson music has taught you:
Keep moving forward, stay present, and protect yourself — the music industry can be brutal, so stay grounded and focused.
Dream venue or festival:
Splendour in the Grass would be incredible, and internationally, the Royal Albert Hall would be a dream.
Artists you’d love to collaborate with:
Beck, Elliott Smith, or Lindsey Buckingham. Their effortless, slacker energy combined with experimental, visionary songwriting is hugely inspiring.
Where listeners can follow and support Phantasm Street:
- Instagram: phantasm.st
- TikTok: phantasmstreet
- Facebook: Phantasmstreet
- YouTube: PhantasmSt
- Gmail: Phantasm.st@gmail.com
- Spotify: Phantasm Street
- Triple J Unearthed: Phantasm Street
- SoundCloud: Phantasmstreet
Dream for the next chapter:
We aim to release another EP and a single in 2026, continue touring locally (Northern Rivers, Sydney, Melbourne), and eventually take our music through Europe. Seeing friends from Brisbane bands tour Europe has inspired us and shows the potential of our music community.
What listeners should discover about us:
We’re all massive nerds who give everything 100%. In Phantasm Land, it’s always all in — fully passionate about music, life, and creativity.
Representative video:
YouTube
Earliest memory connected to music:
I think my earliest memory of music was seeing my pop perform with my dad and uncle at a festival — either Broadbeach or Byron Bay Blues Fest. I must have been around 4 or 5. I remember the energy of seeing them on stage playing the blues and even at that age feeling that one day I wanted to do the same: get up on stage and perform music.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
It started very young — around age 4 or 5 — banging on pots and pans and naturally keeping rhythm. But it wasn’t until around age 12 that I picked up the guitar seriously, started writing songs, and honed my craft. During our teenage years, we were deeply involved in the Brisbane All Ages scene, which was hugely inspiring. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, that love for youth music culture remains a core part of who we are.
The story behind your current music project:
I met Tim (drums) and Josh (guitar) in Year 8 at Redcliffe High — we grew up together and shared a love of music. Later, at music school, I met Theo (bass). In 2021, during the COVID lockdowns, the four of us finally came together and formed Phantasm Street. I had a collection of songs waiting for the right band, and together we started creating loud, melodic pop/shoegaze. Our first two songs were released in 2023, and in 2024 we played as many gigs as possible. This year we released five singles and our EP Swamp Puppies, released October 31.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Our sound blends 90s alternative genres like shoegaze, grunge, alt-rock, slacker rock, and 60s pop melodies, with 70s prog influences from King Crimson and Pink Floyd, plus 80s jangle-pop/emo vibes reminiscent of The Cure and Cleaners From Venus. We take inspiration from artists not to imitate them but to explore philosophy, process, and progression — mixing emo, grunge, prog, and more to create a sound that’s uniquely ours, without boundaries.
One thing that completely changed the way you make music:
It’s not the gear — it’s the player and the song. Production and equipment enhance ideas, but a great song and strong performance shine through any setup.
Essential tools, instruments, or software:
Live, we rely on 2–3 heavy tube amps for guitars, but creativity is more about using what’s available. Limitations often lead to the most interesting results. At its core, all we’d need is one drum kit, bass, guitar, mic, and a basic amp — and we could still make something compelling. Personally, an SM57, a tape machine, my Fender Strat, a Hofner bass, and a drum kit would be enough to get going.
Indie artist or song you’re loving right now:
Jessica Pratt’s recent album Here in the Pitch. Her song Life Is was my most listened-to track this year.
How personal experiences influence your music:
Phantasm Street is essentially a “Memory Lane” — a timeline of all the experiences, memories, and moments that shaped me. These experiences form the backbone of our music and artistic vision.
Emotions or messages for listeners:
We aim to provide escape and acceptance — finding beauty and comfort in sadness and pain, with a hopeful undertone. Our music acknowledges the past while encouraging listeners toward a brighter future.
Most important lesson music has taught you:
Keep moving forward, stay present, and protect yourself — the music industry can be brutal, so stay grounded and focused.
Dream venue or festival:
Splendour in the Grass would be incredible, and internationally, the Royal Albert Hall would be a dream.
Artists you’d love to collaborate with:
Beck, Elliott Smith, or Lindsey Buckingham. Their effortless, slacker energy combined with experimental, visionary songwriting is hugely inspiring.
Where listeners can follow and support Phantasm Street:
- Instagram: phantasm.st
- TikTok: phantasmstreet
- Facebook: Phantasmstreet
- YouTube: PhantasmSt
- Gmail: Phantasm.st@gmail.com
- Spotify: Phantasm Street
- Triple J Unearthed: Phantasm Street
- SoundCloud: Phantasmstreet
Dream for the next chapter:
We aim to release another EP and a single in 2026, continue touring locally (Northern Rivers, Sydney, Melbourne), and eventually take our music through Europe. Seeing friends from Brisbane bands tour Europe has inspired us and shows the potential of our music community.
What listeners should discover about us:
We’re all massive nerds who give everything 100%. In Phantasm Land, it’s always all in — fully passionate about music, life, and creativity.
Representative video:
YouTube
Earliest memory connected to music:
I think my earliest memory of music was seeing my pop perform with my dad and uncle at a festival — either Broadbeach or Byron Bay Blues Fest. I must have been around 4 or 5. I remember the energy of seeing them on stage playing the blues and even at that age feeling that one day I wanted to do the same: get up on stage and perform music.
How did your passion for creating music begin?
It started very young — around age 4 or 5 — banging on pots and pans and naturally keeping rhythm. But it wasn’t until around age 12 that I picked up the guitar seriously, started writing songs, and honed my craft. During our teenage years, we were deeply involved in the Brisbane All Ages scene, which was hugely inspiring. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, that love for youth music culture remains a core part of who we are.
The story behind your current music project:
I met Tim (drums) and Josh (guitar) in Year 8 at Redcliffe High — we grew up together and shared a love of music. Later, at music school, I met Theo (bass). In 2021, during the COVID lockdowns, the four of us finally came together and formed Phantasm Street. I had a collection of songs waiting for the right band, and together we started creating loud, melodic pop/shoegaze. Our first two songs were released in 2023, and in 2024 we played as many gigs as possible. This year we released five singles and our EP Swamp Puppies, released October 31.
How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Our sound blends 90s alternative genres like shoegaze, grunge, alt-rock, slacker rock, and 60s pop melodies, with 70s prog influences from King Crimson and Pink Floyd, plus 80s jangle-pop/emo vibes reminiscent of The Cure and Cleaners From Venus. We take inspiration from artists not to imitate them but to explore philosophy, process, and progression — mixing emo, grunge, prog, and more to create a sound that’s uniquely ours, without boundaries.
One thing that completely changed the way you make music:
It’s not the gear — it’s the player and the song. Production and equipment enhance ideas, but a great song and strong performance shine through any setup.
Essential tools, instruments, or software:
Live, we rely on 2–3 heavy tube amps for guitars, but creativity is more about using what’s available. Limitations often lead to the most interesting results. At its core, all we’d need is one drum kit, bass, guitar, mic, and a basic amp — and we could still make something compelling. Personally, an SM57, a tape machine, my Fender Strat, a Hofner bass, and a drum kit would be enough to get going.
Indie artist or song you’re loving right now:
Jessica Pratt’s recent album Here in the Pitch. Her song Life Is was my most listened-to track this year.
How personal experiences influence your music:
Phantasm Street is essentially a “Memory Lane” — a timeline of all the experiences, memories, and moments that shaped me. These experiences form the backbone of our music and artistic vision.
Emotions or messages for listeners:
We aim to provide escape and acceptance — finding beauty and comfort in sadness and pain, with a hopeful undertone. Our music acknowledges the past while encouraging listeners toward a brighter future.
Most important lesson music has taught you:
Keep moving forward, stay present, and protect yourself — the music industry can be brutal, so stay grounded and focused.
Dream venue or festival:
Splendour in the Grass would be incredible, and internationally, the Royal Albert Hall would be a dream.
Artists you’d love to collaborate with:
Beck, Elliott Smith, or Lindsey Buckingham. Their effortless, slacker energy combined with experimental, visionary songwriting is hugely inspiring.
Where listeners can follow and support Phantasm Street:
- Instagram: phantasm.st
- TikTok: phantasmstreet
- Facebook: Phantasmstreet
- YouTube: PhantasmSt
- Gmail: Phantasm.st@gmail.com
- Spotify: Phantasm Street
- Triple J Unearthed: Phantasm Street
- SoundCloud: Phantasmstreet
Dream for the next chapter:
We aim to release another EP and a single in 2026, continue touring locally (Northern Rivers, Sydney, Melbourne), and eventually take our music through Europe. Seeing friends from Brisbane bands tour Europe has inspired us and shows the potential of our music community.
What listeners should discover about us:
We’re all massive nerds who give everything 100%. In Phantasm Land, it’s always all in — fully passionate about music, life, and creativity.
